The Puffer Forum

I've noticed that some large GSP's kinda look dirty. I was wondering if it's actually dirt, or if they just turn a darker color?

Thanks.

And say it IS dirt.....can you clean them???

Some fish shops keep their true brackish puffers, like the Green Spotted, in freshwater. Being such a large fish, they need a higher salinity; so if the water its in doesnt contain any, thats not too good for him.
Where i work, we got some in at around 4 inches and we didnt keep them in brackish. No matter how much i argued about it, my boss just kept aying "People dont do whats right for the fish nowadays, they just get something cause its cool. People look at planted tanks and decide they want one, and they dont get fish that revolve around the plants, they just get fish they like such as silver dollars. that will rip the plants to shreds. So, people wont like the idea of having to fiddle about with salt for thsi fish, its not baout the well being of the fish but what the owner can be bothered to do!". He is quiet right in saying this, but so what if we turn off a customer, we need to care about the fish!
This darkening of the coloiur can also be stress related, like if its being bullied by another puffer. Next tiem your down there, inspect them, see if there are any bullies. And ask the shop owner if theyre kept in brackish, i bet he says no, they dont need it! If you choose to get one, id go for the dominant one thats doing all the bullying, more likely to be getting all the food lol

Colours probably fade with age.

Most fish's colors fade/change as they get older. F8s are one of the few that look better with age.